CLMMRH: Many patients were minors
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Several Negros Occidental residents spent New Year’s Day at hospitals due to firecracker-related injuries. Based on records released by the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), 16 were brought to the hospital between Tuesday and Wednesday after suffering injuries from firecrackers.
Most victims suffered burns, while others experienced blast injuries.
CLMMRH also revealed one individual lost a finger, while a patient from Hinigaran suffered burns to his eyebrow and parts of his face.
One individual in Bacolod City suffered blast injuries after a “Five Star” he was holding got stuck in his hand and exploded. Meanwhile, another victim, a 40-year-old man from Bacolod City, injured both of his legs when a can filled with stones and a firecracker exploded, turning the stones and debris into shrapnel.
The hospital also noted, most patients were minors or under the influence of liquor.
Meanwhile, reports from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) recorded three incidents of firecracker-related injuries, while Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) data recorded between December 24 and January 1 reported 23 firecracker-related injuries.
The number of those injured by firecrackers is expected to rise as records do not include those brought to various private hospitals in Negros Occidental.
Despite the number of firecracker-related injuries in the province, the Department of Health said they recorded a 35 percent drop in firecracker injuries nationwide as compared to last year./DGB, WDJ